(OAKBROOK TERRACE, Illinois – January 25, 2016) The Joint Commission’s Hospital Accreditation Program announced today that Parrish Medical Center, a public, not-for-profit facility in Titusville, Florida, is the first hospital in the United States to be awarded Integrated Care Certification.
The Joint Commission began offering Integrated Care Certification in July 2015 to recognize hospitals and ambulatory care settings that excel at integrating information-sharing, transitions of care, hand-off communications and other key activities as a patient moves between the hospital and outpatient care settings. The overarching goal is interactive engagement of providers and patients throughout the care cycle. By integrating care across the continuum, this positively affects patient outcomes.
“On behalf of The Joint Commission, I want to congratulate Parrish Medical Center on becoming the first organization in the country to earn the Integrated Care Certification,” said Mark Pelletier RN, MS, Chief Operating Officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, The Joint Commission. “This certification recognizes Parrish Medical Center’s dedication to improving patient outcomes with better coordinated care. It is also a benefit to the surrounding community Parrish serves, and it reflects its commitment to ensuring high-quality care transcends the walls of its hospitals.”
Founded in 1958, Parrish Medical Center (PMC) is a 210-bed, not-for-profit public medical center in North Brevard County, Florida. In June, 2014, Mayo Clinic and Parrish Medical Center officials announced PMC as the 29th member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. PMC is the first Central Florida member of the network and the third in Florida.
“I want to congratulate The Joint Commission for establishing this groundbreaking certification program that recognizes the importance of integrated care for the benefit of the patients and communities we serve,” said George Mikitarian, president and chief executive officer, Parrish Medical Center. “We are therefore proud and humbled to be the nation’s first to earn Integrated Care Certification. Completing the voluntary certification process continues to afford us the opportunity to demonstrate that our community-based network of hospitals, physicians, and outpatient services are effectively working together to improve patient care and quality and to reduce costs.”
In order to be eligible for the certification, at least one component of the health care system, such as the ambulatory care or hospital services, must be accredited by The Joint Commission. The certification period is for three years, and organizations are evaluated by reviewers who specialize in integrated care. This certification is separate from the accreditation process and does not affect the accreditation status of an organization.
